The idea for a sea-level canal has been around since the 16th century when canals were first developed. The Panama Canal, an artificial waterway across the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connects the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. Its course is north-south, and the Pacific border is to the east of the Atlantic end. At the time of its opening it was universally acknowledged as the greatest engineering feat of the modern age, and it is still so regarded by many observers. The passage through this waterway shortens the trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific by 7,000 mi.

The first serious attempt to construct the Panama Canal began in 1881 and was undertaken by a private company. The original construction called for a sea-level channel without locks, but the project began to appear beyond the capability of the privately financed concern. The limiting costs resulted in the failure of this operation in 1889.

English: Worker on the Miraflores locks, Panama-Ca...

Missouri moves through the Panama Canal en route t...

Panorama of Pacific entrance of the canal. Left: P...

The United States acquired the rights to construct the canal in 1904 and began work in earnest, only this time with three sets of locks.

Since its construction the Panama Canal has accomplished much. About 32 ships pass through the canal daily. They pay an average of $28,000 for passage. Some massive ships pay tolls several times this amount. The fees are well spent, for the trip of some eight to ten hours through the canal saves many miles and many days of travel. An almost endless variety of products pass through the canal day after day. Over a million tons of oceangoing commercial cargo are shipped through the canal each year. The main commodities passing through the canal are petroleum and petroleum products. In 1915, the first year of operation, about 5 million tons of cargo were shipped through the Panama Canal...

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... Panama Canal was a way for the American government to make money and provide a faster route to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean for the American Naval Fleet. President Roosevelt was convinced that the Panama Canal ...

... Isthmus of Panama has been used as a connection from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In 1502, on his fourth journey, Christopher Columbus arrived on the Isthmus. He was sponsored or sent by the Spanish. In 1510, In 1510, Spain began settlements on the Isthmus ...

... America and continued to migrate back and forth, sharing trade goods and culture and using the rich natural resources of the isthmus. The earliest Europeans to explore Panama recognized its value as a link between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. For two centuries, Spain used Panama ...

... construction of the canal ranks as one of the greatest engineering works of all time. In history people had interest in a shorter route from the Atlantic to Pacific. This began with the explorers of Central America early in the 16th century. Hernan Cortez was a spanish conqeror of ...

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